Volvo’s Jacked-Up Hatchback Blends Safety With Sophistication

The Volvo C30 is one of the best-looking hatchbacks to come out in a decade. But what if you wanted to get a little mud in the wheel wells? That’s what the XC Concept is for.

Volvo’s latest attempt to blend safety, sophistication, and sex appeal onto four wheels will make its debut at next week’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit, and while it doesn’t foretell the future of the C30, it will inspire the design of Volvo’s future crossovers, specifically the XC90, which is long overdue for a refresh.

The XC Concept sports 21-inch wheels, a new grille design, and T-shaped daytime running lights that are set to infiltrate the Volvo lineup in the coming years. There’s no word on powertrains — no surprise since this is just a rolling art project for now — but regardless, we can never get enough high-riding hatchbacks, and Volvo just created the best one yet. Now they just have to build it.